Dehydroepiandrosterone

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 25, 2024.

What are other common names?

• Androstenolone
• Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
• DHEA
• DHEA-S
• GL701
• Prasterone

What is this product used for?

Dehydroepiandrosterone is a hormone and is also called DHEA. It is used by some people to help with low mood or anxiety. It may also be used as part of therapy to help some people get pregnant when their ovaries are not working well. DHEA may help to control blood sugar in females who are overweight. It may also help maintain healthy bones as well as increase the desire to have sex after menopause. DHEA applied inside the vagina may help to decrease pain during sex as you get older.

What are the precautions when taking this product?

• Always check with your doctor before you use a natural product. Some products may not mix well with drugs or other natural products.

• This product may interfere with some lab tests. Be sure to talk with your doctor about this and all drugs you are taking.

• Do not use this product if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon. Use birth control you can trust while taking this product.

• Do not use this product if you are breastfeeding.

• Do not use this product if you have health problems that are sensitive to hormones. These are problems like breast cancer, prostate cancer, or endometriosis.

• Do not use this product if you are taking other products that also increase serotonin in your body, such as some cough medicines, SSRIs, or MAO inhibitors. These are products like St John’s wort, dextromethorphan, fluoxetine, citalopram, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine.

• Take extra care if you are taking drugs that affect your hormones. These are drugs like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, anastrozole, exemestane, fulvestrant, letrozole, or tamoxifen.

• If you have blood sugar problems, keep hard candies, glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or juice on hand for low blood sugar.

• Take extra care and check with your doctor if you have:

  • Kidney problems

  • Liver problems

  • Problems with your uterus or ovaries

  • High blood pressure

  • Cholesterol problems

  • Diabetes

  • Cancer, especially breast or prostate cancer

  • Low mood or other mood disorders

  • Mental health problems

  • Seizures

  • Immune system problems

What should I watch for?

• Acne

• Hair growth

• Mood changes like feeling energetic, irritable, or aggressive

• Problems sleeping

• Enlarged or tender breasts in men or women

• Testes problems

• Change in menstrual cycle

• Voice gets deeper

• Hair growth on face

• Greasy skin and increased body odor

When do I need to call the doctor?

• Signs of a very bad reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; fever; rash; hives; itching, discolored, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Go to the ER right away.

• Signs of mental health problems. These include very low mood, feeling restless, sleep problems, loss of motivation, difficulty concentrating, not wanting to be around people, hearing voices, seeing things that are not really there, or having thoughts about hurting yourself or others.

• Signs of high blood pressure. These include very bad headache, nervousness, problems breathing, or nosebleeds.

• Signs of low blood sugar. These include hunger, dizziness, shaking, a fast heartbeat, confusion, or sweating.

• Very fast heartbeat

• Signs of liver problems like upset stomach or throwing up, belly pain, feeling tired, dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, not hungry

Last Reviewed Date

2023-06-07

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